Cutting gluten out of one’s diet has become a trend lately, but is there any substance behind the claim that being\u00a0gluten-free\u00a0is a healthier choice?<\/p>\n
Gluten is the mix of proteins naturally found in cereal grains like wheat, barley and rye. It’s present\u00a0in almost every packaged food you could imagine. While it may be healthy to cut out these processed products, gluten itself isn’t harmful<\/a>. That is, unless you have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder where\u00a0consuming this substance can cause serious damage to the intestine. This disease only affects 1% of the population, but a survey from research firm NPD Group shows that gluten-free living appeals to about 30% of American adults<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lots of misinformation surrounds the\u00a0gluten-free diet, but check out\u00a0the radio piece below to get the truth straight from the source. I talk with Grace Sulzman, a sophomore here at KU, who has been following\u00a0a gluten-free diet\u00a0for the last 7\u00a0years after being diagnosed with celiac.\u00a0We bust misconceptions, dive into the lifestyle and even talk about restaurants here in Lawrence with good gluten-free options. Listen in.<\/p>\n